topic Re: Lending Clothes in Community Chat

Lending Clothes

Biftu — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:07:15 GMT

I received a call this morning from a gal I worked with years ago. We were friendly but that's it. I hear from her a couple of times a year. She seems to be financially struggling and lives alone. She said her son (in another state) is getting remarried and he is flying her out for the wedding but she has nothing to wear. She said she has been looking on line but couldn't find anything. She complimented me on my wardrobe and asked if I had anything she could borrow to wear to the wedding. She is about my size. There was a repair man at my door so I had to end the conversation.

I probably could come up with a few options for her, but am reluctant for some reason to accommodate her request. It's not like she is a friend. Not sure if she will call again to ask, but I want to be ready with my answer before she does.

How would you feel about lending out your clothes?

Re: Lending Clothes

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:13:37 GMT

Why not just be kind and help her out? People over clothes. Perhaps she has asked others and has gotten 'no's' and she just needs a 'yes' to lift her burden. It may have taken her a lot to even ask so be the person that says 'yes, I'd be happy to'. You just might make her day.

Re: Lending Clothes

kaydee50 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:20:00 GMT

Unless she was a close friend, or I wanted to get rid of the item, no, I would not "lend" my clothing to anyone. Suggest places that you buy your clothes and she can fend for herself.

What a strange request from someone you're not that friendly with.

Re: Lending Clothes

Love to Run — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:16:32 GMT

If I could help someone in need by honoring a simple request I would. You may have something that you no longer wear that she would be thankful to have.

Re: Lending Clothes

Nightowlz — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:18:17 GMT

I loaned my wedding dress to a friend. She told me she would have it dry cleaned before she returned it so I agreed to let her use it. She told me the garment bag had gotten torn up so she would replace it. She returned my dress not cleaned in a cheap plastic bag. I had to have it cleaned & buy another acid free bag to store it in. That's my story.

If you want to loan her something to wear for the wedding just know you may not get it back at all or you may get it back not in the condition it's in now. If you are good with that loan her something to wear. If your not don't. Stuff can happen.

Re: Lending Clothes

ALRATIBA — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:19:02 GMT

I have a lot of clothes.... so I would (and have in the past) just give her something to wear to the wedding.

Re: Lending Clothes

depglass — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:22:31 GMT

Tell her to visit her local thrift shops, even small towns have them. St. Vincent's, Goodwill, Salvation Army. If she can't find something she likes she's not trying. She may not like what you have anyway, I'm hoping she isn't shopping your closet.

Re: Lending Clothes

Kachina624 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:22:58 GMT

There are plenty of resell outlets in almost every community where things are sold very inexpensively. Suggest she check them out.

I, too, would not lend clothes unless the item was disposable. I think it's nervy to even ask someone other than a very close friend or relative.

Re: Lending Clothes

ECBG — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:26:07 GMT

If you want to help her, go through your closet and see if you have something appropriate and you don't/would no longer wear.

In that you barely see or get together with her, you likely won't get it back.

Re: Lending Clothes

ahoymate — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:03:42 GMT

I've had these so-called friends/acquaintances that "show" up out of the blue. They won't stop with one request. They will continue to call on you. Nicely tell them no.There are so many 2nd hand stores that she could go to.

Re: Lending Clothes

TheMemphisVette — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:37:10 GMT

loan? no

i would pick a couple of appropriate items and gift her them.

it would give me great joy to help her.

Re: Lending Clothes

LindaSal — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:37:27 GMT

@Biftu I normally do not "lend" out my clothing, actually I don't like to lend period as most times if things are returned they are not in the same condition. (unless it's for my kids or siblings). That being said I am guilty of having way too many clothes so I would choose a couple of dresses/oufits that I can live without and tell her to take her pick and keep them Best of luck, to me it sounds like she really can use some help in this situation.

Re: Lending Clothes

Love my grandkids — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:42:30 GMT

@Biftu Maybe I'm just a sap but her story sounds sad. She may have exercised other options and is embarrassed to have to ask, I don't know. But I would give her something that would be appropriate and that I could afford to not have returned.

It never hurts to be kind if we can. I just feel kind of sorry for her, no idea why.

Re: Lending Clothes

piperbay — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:06:46 GMT

I would give her something to wear and a little card or note with some money in case she wanted to get something else. I would give her the benefit of the doubt.

Re: Lending Clothes

I am still oxox — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:10:16 GMT

I would never loan clothes you never about a persons hygiene. I might loan a purse to a non smoker

Re: Lending Clothes

KingstonMom — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:15:14 GMT

I can only relate my own experience, when I 'loaned' a brand new, expensive wide leather belt to a friend. It tied together with fringe.

It apparently came off during her evening and she didn't "notice".

There was no 'sorry!", much less an offer to replace it. And she knew it was new.

I never even got to wear it.

Learned my lesson, now I don't 'loan'. I may have offered what many suggested here, but no loans.

Re: Lending Clothes

Shelbelle — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:19:32 GMT

People borrow things like evening gowns and wedding gowns all the time.

Re: Lending Clothes

bikerbabe — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:22:51 GMT

If I had some thing that fit that I no longer required, especially if I had a lot of clothes, I would gift it to her and I would assume that a loan is a gift.

In my case, I no longer have any formal clothing so her request would be wasted on me.

Re: Lending Clothes

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:24:05 GMT

The answer is simple - just ask yourself if you want to be a person that is generous or stingy.

Re: Lending Clothes

ahoymate — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:25:19 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
The answer is simple - just ask yourself if you want to be a person that is generous or stingy.

Is life so black & white?